Colorado Plants Injurious to Livestock 
23 
Figs. IS - 16.—-Death cam as: IS, single flower showing 3 sepals, 3 petals, 6 stamens, 1 
pistil, and yellow glands; 16, single pod. 
lily-like flowers. The wild onions, of which there are a number of 
species, are most frequently mistaken for death camas. They have 
bulbs and leaves that are similar to those of death camas. However, 
the odor of the wild onion should be sufficient to distinguish it from 
the death camas. The flowers are arranged quite differently in the 
onion as may be seen readily by comparing figs. 13 and 18. Occasion¬ 
ally, the mariposa lily (Calochortus) is mistaken for death camas. In 
this, the underground stem is a corm, that is, a solid structure, not made 
up of layers. P'urlhermore the flowers are few in number, large, and 
showy. 
Symptoms of poisoning .—The symptoms of poisoning by camas 
are quite characteristic and one should be able to recognize these 
cases with a considerable degree of certainty. At first the animal is 
uneasy, and an irregularity of the muscular movements of the body is 
apparent. This is followed by complete loss of muscular control, 
rapid and difficult breathing, spasms and a frequent but weak pulse. 
The one condition that especially characterizes poisoning by death 
camas is the complete muscular paralysis without loss of consciousness. 
Preventive and remedial measures .—There is only one way to 
prevent poisoning by death camas and that is to keep animals away 
from it. It is then of first importance that stockmen be able to identify 
the plant. It is first seen in the spring about the same time as the 
first green grass and dries up and disappears in middle summer. Its 
close resemblance to wild onion will help some in its identification. 
